Tressel made $21.7 million at Ohio State, reports say

Ohio State coach Jim Tressel talks with members of the media during an NCAA college football news conference, Tuesday, March 8, 2011, in Columbus, Ohio.

COLUMBUS, Ohio  Jim Tressel made $21.7 million as Ohio State football coach over his decade-long tenure before being ousted for breaking NCAA rules, records from the publicly funded school show.

Tressel earned more than $3.5 million in 2010, the year he learned about and covered up an improper benefits scandal that has resulted in Ohio State meeting with the NCAA’s committee on infractions this Friday.

The figures were released Tuesday by the university as part of a public-records request by The Associated Press. They show that part of Tressel’s pay — $4.6 million — came from an exclusive apparel deal with Nike under which Ohio State directed a portion of the money it received to the coach.

Tressel also received more than $100,000 worth of regular-season game tickets in addition to $835,000 for taking the Buckeyes to three BCS title games.